KOTWARA By MEERA AND MUZAFFAR ALI

DLF Emporio, New Delhi

BMW India Bridal Fashion Week 2014

Day 4: 10th August, 2014

Inspired by the history of Kotwara and its royal family, designers Meera and Muzaffar Ali uniquely presented the rich look and feel of their upcoming period film this year– RAQS- The Dance Within. Its Ali’s comeback on the big screen three decades after his classic movie Umrao Jaan was released in 1981, that starred Rekha as the famous Lucknow courtesan.

Their collection represented the quintessence of the Awadh culture and thebest of Kotwara’s past collections over the last 5 years in both styling and palette. Each of the classic vintage ensembles have evolved and been detailed to perfection.

The duo introduced elements of royal dressing through a stylised approach with off-shoulder sleeves, high neck sleeveless blouses, embroidered overcoats, angarakhas and flared kurtasappearing in royal fabrics of chiffon, velvet, and netting. The creations were exquisitely bedecked with pearls, embroidery, and textured brocades, adding a final touch to the royal finery. Traditional jewellery with delicate maang tikkas, statement rings and necklaces teamed up with gold coloured slippers in Edwardian style added glamour to the outfits bringing in white as a runway statement color of kotwara collection.

The show was closed by Stylist and costume designer Pernia Qureshi who will make her acting debut as a courtesan in RAQS; dazzled in a choli and flared sharara striped pants.Turning the wheel from contemporary style to featuring bridal designs of the past, the duo did have something inherently unique in their presentation of the rich Awadhi culture’s impact on Indian bridal wear.